First Great Western Bedwyn/Pewsey

[Tomnick]

Indeed, it seems to me that it's the extension of Newbury services to Bedwyn that is most unexpected, rather than the lack of continuation to Westbury. Just a quick look at the approximate density of population along the valley seems to show that it drops off quite significantly after the centres of Hungerford and Kintbury, so there seems to be some sense to it!

 

[TheWalrus]

Gosh. What a load of rubbish.

Most of those 193k passengers commute to and from London, for which this market is well served. Running an off peak half empty service to Taunton would be a complete waste of time, not to mention money and waste of units that are far better utilised on the core LTV region. Bedwyn is the most convenient and sensible place to turn the service round, extensions to Westbury would be useful perhaps but the lack of platform space as mentioned is an issue.

Oh give it a rest! Sensible to terminate at Bedwyn? The only place worse is Chathill! And there's enough pax. So you think it's acceptable for this terrible service at a station with 193k pax, rapidly increasing, when there's stations with a lot less with a lot more services! You the most ridiculous logic ever, if it was anywhere else an "hourly service would be deserved". So seriously, keep to your own area. And I could say cut a load of Exmouth-Paignton services cos they run a 2 car 143 with half a dozen in a carriage - a Pad-Exd semi-fast would carry a hell of a lot more than that! So maybe we only need one train every 3 hours to Paignton?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Indeed, it seems to me that it's the extension of Newbury services to Bedwyn that is most unexpected, rather than the lack of continuation to Westbury. Just a quick look at the approximate density of population along the valley seems to show that it drops off quite significantly after the centres of Hungerford and Kintbury, so there seems to be some sense to it!

There's no sense to it. Seriously, who wants to go to Bedwyn? Honestly?

 

[Tomnick]

Perhaps no-one wants to go to Bedwyn, but the good people of Hungerford and Kintbury do perhaps want to go to Newbury (nearest big town), Reading (for onward connections) and London. There's surely some historical reason for suburban services continuing to Bedwyn, but the presence of turnback facilities there seems a good enough reason for that not to change in favour of turning back at Kintbury.

 

[TEW]

Pewsey's service has got better.
Current Services to London:
0625, 0635, 0722, 0808, 1017, 1321, 1625, 1934, 2121
2001 Services to London:
0724, 0825, 1049, 1309, 1506, 1651, 2123

Current Services from London:
0818, 1106, 1218, 1506, 1636, 1706, 1736, 1806, 1833, 1945, 2035
2001 Services From London:
0833, 1033, 1233, 1633, 1733, 1833, 1933, 2033

 

[Peter Mugridge]

On a point of order, the Reading to Newbury all stations shuttle service saves 2 Turbos, not 1. same number of diagrams as the Reading - Basingstoke line shuttle uses. To illustrate this:

10.12 Reading - Newbury 10.44 returns as 11.13 Newbury - Reading 11.45 then forms the 12.12 back to Newbury.

Second diagram operates for 11.12 from Reading etc



10.07 Reading - Basingstoke 10.31 returns as 10.37 Basingstoke - Reading 11.00 then forms the 11.07 back to Basingstoke.

Second diagram operates for the 10.39 from Reading etc.



Reading to Newbury = 17 miles.

Reading to Basingstoke = 15½ miles.


So not really a lot of difference between them.

 

[tbtc]

Reading to Newbury = 17 miles.

Reading to Basingstoke = 15½ miles.


So not really a lot of difference between them.

Difference is that electrification to Newbury only allows EMUs to operate the existing Reading - Newbury service (or Paddington - Reading - Newbury), whereas Basingstoke would allow other EMU routes to run (Portsmouth - Reading, Southampton - Oxford)

I take your point about the units required (because the Basingstoke trips have quick turnarounds, whilst the Newburys have very generous timings, especially given the shorter distance)

 

[MCR247]

But if you electrify RDG-Basingstoke then for any through service dual
Voltage would be needed anyway

 

[tbtc]

But if you electrify RDG-Basingstoke then for any through service dual
Voltage would be needed anyway

They would, but any services from the south coast to the rest of the country are going to need to be anyway. Most EMUs are dual voltage anyway, so wouldn't be a big issue getting stock for
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Out of interest, was the Newbury spur part of Labour's electrification plans? Bit strange

 

[SprinterMan]

When the line to Newbury is electrified and some 165s & 166s are transferred to the west country, won't this cause issues since the turbos have different multiple working systems to pacers & sprinters, so they connot be coupled to them.

 

[Greenback]

They would, but any services from the south coast to the rest of the country are going to need to be anyway. Most EMUs are dual voltage anyway, so wouldn't be a big issue getting stock for
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Out of interest, was the Newbury spur part of Labour's electrification plans? Bit strange

I doubt it, Labour aren't interested in Newbury politically!

 

[tbtc]

I doubt it, Labour aren't interested in Newbury politically!

I certainly didn't remember it featuring in Labour's plans, but could be wrong

Nice to see public funding of Vodafone's town...

 

[imagination]

I think Newbury was in it - as I remember thinking "why on earth is it going there?"

Oh and contrary to what was said earlier in this thread - Newbury was lib dem until 2005 (since 1993) and was a lib/tory marginal in 01 and 05. Labour failed to retain its deposit in the 2010 election.

 

[tbtc]

I think Newbury was in it - as I remember thinking "why on earth is it going there?"

Oh and contrary to what was said earlier in this thread - Newbury was lib dem until 2005 (since 1993) and was a lib/tory marginal in 01 and 05. Labour failed to retain its deposit in the 2010 election.

Sorry for the Newbury negativity, but it looks like another Hazel Grove - electrification which has hardly any EMUs on it - especially when Basingstoke is much more deserving

 

[MCR247]

IMO if you are going to electrify to Basingstoke, you need to do it 750V DC

 

[louis97]

1tp3h!

Think you missed out a few of the extra services in peak that call there. Its around 1tph in peak in the direction that is the busiest (To London AM, from London PM). With services to/from Frome/Westbury/Exeter. Some of them within 10-20 minutes of each other.

These being:
0625 from Westbury, 0635 from Frome, 0722 from Exeter and 0808 from Plymouth, All going to London.
1744 Exeter, 1834 Westbury, 1841 Exeter, 1934 Frome, 1946 Exeter and 2047 Plymouth, all from London.

Maybe you would be happy if some of those were withdrawn, and then spread out to make the service 1tph.
I'm 100% sure you wouldent as then you would moan of overcrowding on peak services because not enough trains would be calling there during the peak hours.

 

[anthony263]

When the line to Newbury is electrified and some 165s & 166s are transferred to the west country, won't this cause issues since the turbos have different multiple working systems to pacers & sprinters, so they connot be coupled to them.

I am not to sure about that, i thought the main problem was getting the turbos cleared for some routes. I think the plan was to put the turbos on the Cardiff - Poprtsmouth Harbour service to displace the 158's to other routes.

Maybe if there are enough class 158/165's a better service could be operated on the line through Melksham

 

[devon_metro]

Oh give it a rest! Sensible to terminate at Bedwyn? The only place worse is Chathill! And there's enough pax. So you think it's acceptable for this terrible service at a station with 193k pax, rapidly increasing, when there's stations with a lot less with a lot more services! You the most ridiculous logic ever, if it was anywhere else an "hourly service would be deserved". So seriously, keep to your own area. And I could say cut a load of Exmouth-Paignton services cos they run a 2 car 143 with half a dozen in a carriage - a Pad-Exd semi-fast would carry a hell of a lot more than that! So maybe we only need one train every 3 hours to Paignton?

Ever considered stand up comedy/researching the definition of irony?

As you seem intent on the use of passenger numbers, can I draw to your attention the 2007/8 footfall of Paignton :- 427368. Thus i'd say that Pewseys level of service is in propotion with Paigntons ~hourly service.

 

[MCR247]

Can you really use pax numbers to say how many tph a station should get?

 

[jopsuk]

To a point, one would hope that improved service levels would increase passenger numbers.

 

[MCR247]

But it could go around in circles

Station doesn't get more services due to usage not being really high
Usage isn't really high because the service is irregular

 

[Chris125]

I certainly didn't remember it featuring in Labour's plans, but could be wrong

I believe you are. I believe im right in saying the current plans, Cardiff/Swansea aside, are no different to what Lord Adonis announced.

Chris

 

[tbtc]

I believe you are. I believe im right in saying the current plans, Cardiff/Swansea aside, are no different to what Lord Adonis announced.

Chris

Fair enough, cheers

 

[imagination]

Bristol too.

 

[Zoe]

I think the plan was to put the turbos on the Cardiff - Poprtsmouth Harbour service to displace the 158's to other routes.

Hopefully this will allow 158s to return to Devon and Cornwall, in turn allowing 150s to be cascaded to Northern allowing pacers to fianlly be withdrawn.

 

[paul1609]

I am not to sure about that, i thought the main problem was getting the turbos cleared for some routes. I think the plan was to put the turbos on the Cardiff - Poprtsmouth Harbour service to displace the 158's to other routes.

Maybe if there are enough class 158/165's a better service could be operated on the line through Melksham

Is the class 165/6 route clearance still an issue? It appears that Redhill to Selhurst was recently cleared with the stroke of a pen.

 

[swt_passenger]

Is the class 165/6 route clearance still an issue? It appears that Redhill to Selhurst was recently cleared with the stroke of a pen.

As I just pointed out in the other thread, the published proposal is to use them on Portsmouth - Cardiff 'following gauge clearance'. If this was impossible they wouldn't be proposing it at all.

I agree the gauge issue is not that significant - and to add to the route you've mentioned above, they've also just been cleared Guildford - Basingstoke via Woking.

 

[Greenback]

Can you really use pax numbers to say how many tph a station should get?

I don;t think it's cut and dried. To a large extent, many stations passengers number are heavily dependent on the elvels of service offered,w hether it's low or high!